Spooling



zwi/#fad (aff/'eye Swag/Mom J. COOK SPOOLING Original Filed July 7, 1941 July 15, 1947 July 15, 1947. J. COOK 2,424,021

` l sPooLING 1 Original Filed Ju'ly '7, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 '75 Eil-15.

Ihre/lar July 15, 1947. J. COOK 2,424,021

sPooLING Original Filed July- '7, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. cooK lJuly '.15, 1947. f

SPO'OLING I 7 sheets-sheet 4 Original Filed July-7, 1941 m N A W m J. COOK SPOOLING July 15, 1947.

` original Filed July fr, 194;

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. COOK SROOLING A Julyl5, 1947.

Original Filed July 7, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 15, 1947. L @GOK 2,424,021

` SP'O'OLING Original Filed July 7, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented July 15, 1947 John Cook, Ridgewood, N. J.

Continuation of application Serial No. 401,389, July 7, 1941. This application November 8, 1945, Serial No. 627,365

2o claims. l

My invention pertains to the art of` packaging strand material, and more particularly to the art of spooling Wire, this application being a continuation of my application Serial No. 401,389 led July 7, 1941, and now abandoned.

, The invention comprises a machine for winding wire and similar strand material, on spools and the like supporting packages, the wire being wound continuously on successive spools. One characteristic of the spooling machine resides in its capability of winding wire under spooling tension, and at a predetermined uniform linear speed, which speed is determined by the speed of travel of the wire as it is delivered to the machine. With particular reference to the present invention, the speed of travel of the wire to the machine is not disturbed when one spool is wound to fullness andthe winding of` an empty spool is begun, the operation of winding continuing uninterrupted from the full spool to the next succeeding emptyspobl. s

The spooling machine includes means operable to attach the-beginning end of the wire to the spool drum whenv the Wire is` fed to an empty spool, the operation'ofl attaching the wire to the spool being performed while the wire continues to be delivered to the spooling machine uninterrupted and without the speed of travel-of the wire being diminished. The invention contemplates a novel method of attaching the beginning end of wire to a spool being wound.

The spooling machine of the invention is useful for the spooling of wire, or other strand material, under any circumstances. It is especially useful when wire is delivered to the spooling machine continuously, for example, from a previous manufacturing or wire-.treating operation at a speed determined by the' speed of travel ofthe wire through the previous operation. Thus, the spooling machine of the present invention affords novel utility when operated in combination with a wire-drawing machine. There is additional novelty in the combination when there is a wiretreating operation, such for example as a heatf treating operation, performed continuously between the drawing and spooling operations.

Under conventional prior art practice of wiredrawine, the wire is delivered speed of the wire drawing operation. Under the prior art practice of spooling wire delivered from a wire-drawing machine, when a given spool has been wound to fullness, the entire mechanism, including the wire-drawing machine and the spoolfrom the drawing machine at a linearrspeed determined by thev continuous drawing,

chine, viewed from the er, is brought to a stop, and adjustments are made to begin the winding ofthe next spool.

Under the practice of the present invention, the wire is spooled on successive spools without interrupting operation of the wire-drawing machine. Wire is hardened by the cold working of the drawing operation, and it is usually desirable to heattreat the drawn wire to give it the desired degree of softness. Attempts have been made to anneal wire as a continuous operation, but usually such annealing and spooling of wire must be interrupted each time a spool is wound to fullness to make adjustments necessary to begin winding the Vnext spool. Under practice of the present invention,v wire can be drawn, heattreated and spooled as a continuous operation, uninterrupted by the wire being wound on successive spools.

'I'here are various novel details of structure in the spooling machine, which form part of the present invention. These, and the other features of the present invention, will be better understood from the disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, for a complete understanding of the invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the application of the invention to the art of wire-drawing, annealing and spool- 111g;

Figure2 is a plan view of the wire-spooling machine;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the spooling mairont of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional front elevation of the spooling machine, taken on line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail front elevation, partly in section, of the spool-winding mechanism;

Figure 6 is a cross-section, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail cross-section of the spool latch, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of the spool latch viewed from the left in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a cross-section, taken on line 9 9 of Figure 2, showing the traverse mechanism drive;

Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the machine, with parts broken away, and showing kthe operating mechanism for shifting the wind from the full to the empty s110015 f Figure l1 is a cross sectional elevation taken on line II-II of Figure 2;

vFigure 12 is a cross-sectional elevation with parts broken away, taken on line i2-l2 of Figure 11;

Figures 13 to 1'1 inclusive, show front elevations of the spools in detail, and severally illusf spool;

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on line IS-IB of Figure 13, with parts broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figure 19 Vis a cross-sectional elevation, similar to Figure 18, taken on line I9--I9 of Figure 14;

Figure 20 is a cross-sectional elevation, similar to Figures 18 and 19, taken on line 20--20 of Figure 16;

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the control mechanism for the electrically and pneumatically-operated members of the spooling machine;

Figure 22 illustrates a modified form of the invention, which includes automatic mechanism for attaching the beginning end of wire onto an empty spool to be wound; and

Figure 23 is a cros's-sectiontaken on line 23-'23 of Figure 22, illustrating,'in side elevation, the

Vautomatic mechanism for beginning-winding on an empty spool.

Considering the invention first as comprising a spooling machine in combination with machines which manufacture and treat wire and deliver it to the spooling machine, Figure 1 shows the spooling machine illustrated generally' at 3l; a

, wire-drawing machine, illustrated generally at 32;

and the annealing means, illustrated generally at 33. -Y Y The `wire-drawing machine 32 comprises the housing 34, which contains the dies and capstans which draw the wire to successively finer gauges' construction, and in the embodiment shown, it

includes the capstan 3G, the delivery roller, or sheave 38, and the intermediate sheave 33', which latter is spaced away from and preferably above, the capstan 38 and roller 33 a sufilclent distance toprovide the required length of wire for the desired amount of heat-treating. The wire 55 is heated by any suitable means, such as electricity from the line 40; opposite sides of the line 40 being respectively connected to the capstan 36 and the delivery roller 33, as shown, to provide a closed circuit through the wire 55. The voltage and amperage of the electrical current are such, relative to the resistance of the wire and its time of travel from capstan 36 to roller 38, that the wire is heated to the desired heattraversing guide 45 travels from end to end of the spool 43, being wound, and travels the length of the spool 43, at a speed relative to the rotary speed of the spool, to lay successive convolutions of wire side by side on the spool. When the spool 43 is wound to fullness, the traversing guide 44 is shifted to the left opposite spool 42, which is then wound in like manner. When spooling begins on spool 42, full spool 43 is replaced by an empty one, and when spool 42 is wound to fullness, the traversing guide 44 is again shifted to the right, to the position illustrated in Figure 1, to wi-nd the next empty spool 43.l Spools at the right and left are woundin succession, and without interruption of the operation of the spooling machine, wire-drawing machine or annealing 'machina and as rapidly as the wire passes through the several machines. In this manner wire is produced at a very rapid speed. l

When the wire is rdelivered from the annealing machine 33 to the spooling machine 3l, it preferably passes over the slack take-up sheave 41, from which the Wire is delivered to the traversing guide 44. The slack take-up sheave 41 is mounted to rotate on the pivot 43 mounted on the swinging arm 43, which arm pivots at 50 -on the fixed bracket 5I.

The arm 49 is free to swing between the limiting stops 52, 53, and the arm 49 is held in counterbalance between the stops 52 and 53 by a spring 5 4 or any other suitable counterbalancing means. which is maintained constant, and the counterbalanced sheave 41 operates as a visible gauge to indicate when the spooling tension has been disturbed, for example when adjustments, which will be described more fully hereafter, are made for zslznfziang the winding from one to the other spool In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the wire is wound on spools. It is obvious however that the strand material can be formed into packages of any suitable form, and wound on any suitable package support, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The spools 42 and 43, and successive spools wound, are preferably of uniform construction and are thus interchangeable in the machine. In the embodiment shown, and as most clearly illustrated in Figure 5, each spool comprises a hub 53 and the drum 51 held concentrically in spaced relationship by the spool heads 58, 59, which may be of like construction, or of different construction, as shown. At least one head 59 is equipped with apertures 30, 6I positioned between the hub 58 and drum 51 and spaced apart circumferentially, preferably diametrically opposite each other, as shown.

treating temperature when it reaches roller.33.

Any suitable quenching means may be provided, including, for example, the fluid containing tube 4l, and the tank 31 in which the wire is cooled to normal temperature after it leaves the delivery roller 33. y

The spooling machine comprises the spoolsr 42 and. 43, left and right respectively. The wire is wou-nd on one spool-this being spool 43 in Figure l-untll it is wound to fullness. The wire 55 travels to the spool 43 through any suitable traversing guide such as is illustrated generally In the spooling machine of the present invention, the left and right spools 42 and 43, respectively, are mounted on the respective spindles B2 and I3, which fit the spool hubs 56. In the present machine, the spindles 82 and 63 are positioned end to end, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, when both are in winding position. The spindle 62 extends from the co-axial shaft 64, which rotates in the bearing 65 mounted in the bearing housing 5B. A similar bearing housing 61 at the right, Figure 2, encloses a shaft similar to shaft 54 but oppositely disposed to carry the spindle 83.

Attached to each shaft, as illustrated generally in Figure 5, and in detail in Figures 7 and 8, is the collar 68, which carries the pins 69 and 10,

The wire is wound at a spooling tension,l

. e rwhich enter 'therespectiveapertures 80Vand 6| to engage the spool 42 for rotation with the spindle 82. The pin 69 is carriedby Vthe block 1|, 'which rides radially o! the spool-spindle in guldeway 12 of the collar 08 provided for it. The guide-l way 12 is closed at its upper end by the stop 13, which comprises an insert inthe collar 68 conforming with its circular contour, as' illustrated rin Figure 8. Stop 'I3 is held in position attached to the collar 68 by any suitable means, such as the screws 14. The block 1| is held against rotation by the abutment member 18, and the pin 69 is thus held projected to engage the spool head. The block 1| is backed by compression spring 15 which holds it in engagement with.k the stop '13.` Ihe outer end of the block, distal with respect to the spring 15, constitutes a pushbutton 11.

The notch 18, in the pin 69, is heldin latching engagement with the aperture' 80 of the spool head 59 by the spring 15 when the spool is positioned on the spindle 82. The spools 42 and 43 are removable from their respective spindles 62 and 63 by depressing the push button against action of the spring 1,5 to position the notch 18 out of engagement with ythe aperture S0, and then sliding the spool ofi of the spindle.

The pin may be constructed similarfto pin 89, but preferably itis constructedas shown, rigidly attached to the collar 68 by being threaded therein, yas illustrated at 19, Figure 5. The lock nut'80 holds the pin .10 against accidental release from the collar 68.

` in Figure 2, i-t is respectively, Figures 2 and 3,

l is attached to,v the base placed by an empty spool 42.

.81. The cylinder ing 82, 83, and attached to the .plate 95 is .the piston rod 96, Figure 6, which slides intoand out of the cylinder, The Vcylinder 94 rests on, and plate 91, iixed to the base 98 of the machine. When the spool 42 is slid for- Wardly of the machine, to dotted line position 42 out ofthe way of spool 43, and from the spindle 62 to be re- The rods 82, 83 are supported by front and rear brackets 99, |00, which rest on the base plate 91, attached thereto.

The spool, 43'isdriven independently of the spool 42 by a separate motor |0|, through sprocket chain |02, Figures 2 and 4. The motor |0| is mounted similar4 tothe motor 90 on rods 86 and |03, with its piston and piston rod connected to the connecting -plate |04 attached to the front slidelbearing |05, operates to actuate spool 43 forwardlyv of the machine. into position opposite the dotted line position 42', where the full spool 43 can be removed from spindle 63 and replacedby an empty one. The rods 86, 81, are supported on the machine base 98 by front and rear support brackets |06, |01, respectively, which set on the base plate 91, fixed thereto.

The respective motors 90 and |0| are under control of manually operable rheostat starting switches |08, |09, Figure 21. The motors 90 and can be removed v |0| are connected in parallel across the line l0,

The spindle 63 at the right is mounted similarly to the spindle 62, but the mounting is disposed in the opposite direction to the showing in Figure 5. 'I'his places the spindles 82 and 63 in end to end relationship, as shown in Figure 5, and the spools 42 ^and 43 are thus positiohed in the machine coaxially side by side, Figure 2, to facilitate the shift of winding from the full to the `empty spool. The spool 43 is attached to spindle 63 by a latching structure similar to that shown in Figures 7y andy 8, but disposed in the opposite direction. Accordingly, and as indicated in Figures 2 and 5, the spool heads 58 of the left and right spools 42 and 43 are disposed side by side, and the spool heads 59 are positioned away from each other. y

The bearing housing 66 is xedly mounted on the bearing braoket`8l, which is fixed to the slide bearings 82, V83, whichare slidably mounted on the respective rods 84, 85, see Figure 6. As illustrated Figures 2 and 4, there are similar rods 86 and 91, which support thespindle'mounting of the spool 43 at the right of the machine.

As best illustrated in Figures 3 an'dYG, there is a.

support platen 88, xedly attached at its forward end to the bearing bracket 8|, and resting on the rear sliding bearings 89, attached thereto. Bearings 89 also slidefon the rods 84, 85, moving in unison with the bearings 82, 83.

The platen 88 supports the electric motor 90, mounted on its base 9|. The motor 90 drives the shaft 54 and the spool chain 92 and sprocket 93, Figures 2, 3 and 5.

Thus the motor 90 and the spool 42, mounted on the unitary support comprising the platen 88, the bearing bracket 8|, the front slide bearings 82, 83, andvrear slide bearings 89, are movable to a forward position in the machine along slide rods 84, 85. The pneumatic cylinder 94, Figure 6, is .operable to move the spool 42 from the full line position illustrated in Figure 2, to the dotted line position 42 at the right, and back to the full line position. Connector plate 95 connects slide beary42through the sprocket through line switch the starting switches |08 and |09 being connected in circuit with their respective motors, to control operation of the motors independently of each other. So connected, each motor 90 or |0| can be placed in operation at will, -to wind its respective spool 42, 43, and the rheostat switches |08, |09 can be adjusted'manually to bring their respective motors to desired rotary speed for proper spooling tension. l

In addition to the sheave 45 the traversing guide 44 comprises the pair of rollers ||4 spaced apart to permit the wire 55 to pass freely between them to thesheave 45. y The rollers H4 rotate on the pins 5 carriedby the bracket |6, Figures 2, 3, 4 and 11. The bracket 6 is mounted on the sleeve I1, on which the traversing sheave 45 rotates. The sheave 45 is positioned in line with the space between rollers ||4 for the Wire to pass from the slack take-up sheave 41, Figure 1, between rollers ||4 under the guide sheave 45 onto the spool being wound, see Figures 3, 11, 22 and 23.

of the spacer member |2|, Figure 4, which projects upwardly from the sleeve ll'l, the pin |20 being in position to ride inthe end slot' |22 in the swinging arm |23, and to provide a shifting pivot between sleeve and arm |23. At its opposite end the swinging arm |23 has the slot |24v which receives'the pivot pin |25. During the winding f of any given spool 42 or 43, the pin |25 comprises a xed pivotvfor the swinging arm |23, which oscillates to reciprocate the sleeve |1 longitudinal- 1yv of the cross rod ||8 to actuate the traversing guide 44 opposite the spool 42 or 43 being wound, back and forth between the heads 58, 59 thereof.

Positioned below the swinging arm |23 is the 7 transverse slide rod |26, Figure 4, mounted to slide in the 'bearing bracket :|21. The bearing bracket |21 is mounted, asfseen in'Flgure 3, and

' more in detail in Figure 9, to restonV the gear box |28, to be described more fully hereinafter. The gear box |28, in turn, rests on theframe |28, which sets on the upright support pillars |30, the pillars |30 projecting upwardlyfrom' the base plate 81 of the machine.

The pin |3| projects upwardly from the slide rod |26 into pivotal engagement with the` swinging arm |23. The pin |25, comprising the fixed pivot, slides in slot |24,*Figures 2 and 22, to compensate for the varying distance between pivots |25 and |3|. The heart-shaped cam.,|32 is positioned between the cam-following rollers |33, which project downwardly from, and spaced apart along, the slide rod |26, Figures 2 and 9.

The heart-shaped cam |32 is the member which operates, by means of Amechanism presently to be described, to traverse the guide 44 between the heads 58, 58 of the incident spool42 or 43 being wound, so timed withV reference to the speed of rotation of th'e spool as to lay successive convolutions of wire 55 side by side throughout the length lof the spool drum 51.

Mounted t rotate `in bearings |34, Figure 4, at opposite sides of the main base 88 of the machine, is the transverse shaft |35, Figures 2, 3 and 4. Shaft |35 extends throughout the width of the machine and projects beyond on each side thereof. At each' end of the shaft |35 is a oneway clutch |36, |31 driven by the sprocket chains |38, |39,y respectively, from the respective left and right motors 90 and 10|. v

The idler sprocket |40, Figure'Y 3, mounted on the' swinging arm |4| which pivots at |42, is held by the spring |43 to take up slack in the chain |38. A similar sprocket mounted .on arm |44, Figure 4, takes up slack in chain |39, under duction gearing |50 contained infgear box |28,

Figure 9. y v

When the motor 90 is in operation and the motor |0| is idle, the shaft |35 is driven by mo-` tor 90 through the one-way clutch |36 and over rides the one-way clutch |31. Conversely, when the spool 43 is being wound by operation of motor |0|, the shaft |35 is driven by motor |0| through one-way clutch |31. Thus, the shaft |35 is a1- ways driven'by whichever motor 80, |3| is in operation.

It will be understood that th'e wire is spooled under predetermined spooling tension at a constant linear speed, commensurate with the speed of delivery to the spooling machine. Because the circumference of the winding surface increases with the growth of wire mass, the speed of rotation of the spool 42., '43 being wound must constantly diminish as the winding progresses. YThe speed of rotation of the motor 80, |0I, in operation is reduced correspondingly for this purpose by adjusting the rheostat switches Yfor varying the speed of the respective motors and which switches, per se, form no part of the present invention, and therefore are not disclosed'in detail. However, the shaft |35, being driven by whichever motor 90, |0| is in operation, is'driven at a variable speed corresponding fto the speed variation of the motor in operation. The speed of travel of the traversing guide 44-is thus varied accordingly as the speed of spool rotation varies,

. to timelth'e traverse properly with the growth of wire mass. v

The shift fromy the winding of one spool to the winding of the other is made by shifting the traversing guide 44 from position opposite one spool to position opposite the other, and thisis accomplished by' shifting the fixed pivot |25 from one to the other of the two positions which it occupies. Wh'en spool 43 is being wound, fixed pivot |25 occupies the position illustrated in Figure 2. vThe'xed pivot |25 is shifted to its other ,position when itis desired to wind spool 42.

For the purpose of shifting the rfixed pivotV |25,V

Also restingon the frame"|54 is the pneumatic cylinder |56, containing a piston which actuates the piston rod |51, connected by any suitable means to the carriage |5|. When the carriage |5| is moved, by operation of the cylinder |56, from its position near one' bracket |53 to a position near the other, arm|23 swings on pivot |3|,

to shift the traversing guide 44 from its position opposite one spool 42 or 43 to a corresponding position opposite the other.

It will be noted that the traversing guide 44 will continue under action of .the heart-shaped cam |32 while the shift from one spool to theV other is being made, and it will occupy nearly -the same position relative to the empty spool that it did relative to the full spool. This is because the speed of rotation of th'e heart-shaped cam |32 is relatively slow, and its amount of rotation is slight during the time of the shift.

Means, comprising an interdrive, adapted to be operatively connected between the spools 42 and 43, is employed to insure rotation of an empty spool at a rate commensurate with the linear speed of the wire at the time when the winding is shifted from a spool being wound to an empty spool. The interdrive is shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, and in detail in Figures 11 and 12,.

Mounted on the base plate 91 of the machine are central bearing brackets |58 and the side bearing brackets |58 and |60, respectively incident to th'e spools 4'2 and 43. The shaft |6| rotates in the bearing |58, and keyed to the shaft |6| at the` opposite ends thereof are the pulleys |62 and |63, respectively incident to the spools 42 and 43. The bracket |59 carries the swinging armv |64 pivoted thereon, and at the end of the arm |64 there is mounted a bearingl housing |65 containing a stub shaft for rotation of idler pulley |66. The belt- |61 is carried by the pulleys |62 and |66. Mounted similarly, to pivot; in the bracket |60, is the swinging arm |68 with' the bearing housing |68 enclosing a stub shaft for rotation of the pulley |10. The belt |1| is carriedvby the pulleys |63 and |10.

y Attached to the swinging arm |64, Figure 1l, is the pivot bracket |12, to which the piston rod |13 is pivotally attached. The piston rod |13 is actuated by the piston contained in Vpneumatic cylinder |14 to swing the belt |61 forward and backward into and out of contact with the surface of spool 42. A similar construction, com- Y 9 l Y t prises the pivot bracket land piston rod .|15 pivotally connected thereto, the piston rod |16 being4 actuated by theplstonrenclosed inthe ,cylinder |11, and thismechanism operates to move the belt |1| into and out of contact with the surface. of the spool 43. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that .whenv one of the belts'A is shifted into engagement'with wire being wound on one of the spools and theother belt shifted into engagement with the drum vof an 'empty spool, rotation of the empty spool `will be effected at a greater speed than that ofthe spool on which they wire is being wound. The cylinders |14 and |11 i 10 convolutions |8| spaced apart on spool 43. There are generally about three orfour convolutions l |8| wound on empty spool 43, and, due to the greater circumference of the winding surface of the'full spool42, a lesser number of convolutions |80 are formedthereon. Between spools 42 and 43, there is a bite |32 of wire formed tight over the edges of adjacent spool heads 58.

l For the purpose of binding the beginning end :of wire being wound on the empty spool to the drum 51 thereof, the traversing guide 44 is rapare mounted to pivot on brackets |18 attachedv to the base plate 91 of the machine.

As will be seen in v |61 and |,1| are not centrally located with reference to the respective spools 42 and". Instead, their nearest edges are positioned just inside the adjacent spool heads 58 of the two spools 42 and 43, and the belts |61 and |1iextend in directions` away from each other lwith their most distant edges positioned somewhat beyond the centers of the respective spools 42 and 43. YFor a reason which will be explained hereinafter, the belt |61 of spool 42 is disposed near the head 58 at the rightof the spool, in Figure 2, whereas belt |1| is disposed nearer the head 53 vat the left of the vspool 43.

It will be readilyV appreciated that to begin winding wire on a given spool some means must be lprovided to attach the beginning end ofthe wire to the spool drum. The present invention comprises a novel method of attaching the beginning end of the wire onto the drum ofthe Figures 2,.,4 and 12, the belts Y idly shiftednpm the` fun back to the full spool, and

to the empty spool, again in the original direction to vthe empty spool. In the example illustrated in Figures 13 to 20, the fixed pivot |25 is Shiftedvfrom its position at the end of the slide rodA |52y opposite that shown in Figure 2, to the shown position, baci; to the original position, and again to the shown position. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when one of the belts is shifted into engagement with wire being wound on one of the spools and the other belt shifted into engagement withl the drum of an empty spool, rotation of the empty spool willbe effected at a speed proportional tothe-linear speed of the wirel and thus initiate winding of the wire about the drum of the empty spool without tensioning the wire thereby precluding breaking of or damageto thewire.

Of the three movements, the first as hereinbefore described. changes position of the elements from that illustrated in Figures 13 and 18, to that 'illustrated in Figures 14 and 19. In the Vsecond movement, the elements occupy the position ilempty spool when its winding is begun, and the steps of this method are illustrated in Figures 13 to 20. For the-purpose of illustrating the method of shifting from a full to an empty spool moreV clearly, the wire 55 is shown enlarged in Figures 13 to 20. To make the shift in accordance with the practice of the present invention, a time is preferably selected when the traversing guide 44 is near the center of the full spool 42, and moving in a direction toward the outermost spool head\`58 of the full spool.` p Assuming, inaccordance with the example illustrated in Figures 13 to 20, that the spool 42 has been wound to fullness, lthe transfer will prefer- Y ably be made when the winding situation is as illustrated in Figures 13 and 18 with the traverse.

of wire v55 positioned about midway between the heads V58, 59 of spool 42, and Vmoving to the left. At this time the wire 55 is being wound on the spool 42 under the belt |61, and side by'side convolutions will be forming towards the edge of the lustrated in Figure 15. In lthe third'movement the elements occupy the position illustrated inV Figure 16. 1 Y During the second lmovement of fixed pivot a position opposite the full spool 42, spaced apart convolutions |83, Figure 15, are formed on the drum 51 of empty spool 43, and those overlie the previously formed `convolutions |8I. Because of` the difference in circumference on the wind-v ing surface of full and empty spools 42-and 43, respectively, the two surfaces lbeing driven rat the same linear speed through the interdrive of belts |51 and |1I, spool 43 rotates more rapidly than I Vspool 42. Inasmuch as the linear speed of the belt ITI,

belt remote from the head `56.1'In the case of 'l spool i-42 being wound the fixed pivot |25is in the i position opposite to that shown in Figure 2.

The traversing guide 44 is now shifted opposite the spool 43 by moving the xed pivot |25 in the manner hereinafter described, by means of the pneumatic cylinder |56, tothe position shown in Figure 2.

At vthe completion of this movement, the wire 55 isin position to be wound on spool 4'3 at a point along its length which nearly corresponds with the position of winding on spool 42v at the beginning of the movement. This stage in the process of shifting from one spool to the other is illustrated in Figure14'. The shift from the position of Figure "13' to that of Figure 14 produces a trav.

erse on both spools 42 and 43, which laysa number of spaced apart convolutions |80 Wound on spool 42, and an additional number of similar vdrum 51 of spool 43 is equal to 'the speed of wire travel torspool 43 during formationof convolu` l tions |8|, no strain or tension isimparted to the wire `during formation of the convolutions |8i.

4As soon as convolutions |83, which overlie con- |8| and between the latter and the are formed, they grip the previously formed convolutions |8|, and together with the belt |1| hold them in engagement with the drum surface to bind the beginning end of wire being volutions wound to the empty spool 43.

, Whenv the traversing guide ,44 again'moves toY lthe empty spool 43 in the third movement of A the fixed pivot |25, the elements occupythe `position illustrated in Figure 16. This movement causes a third set of spaced apart convolutions |84 to form on empty spool 43. convolutions |84 overlie previously formed convolutions 83 and |8| iand are disposed between the latter convolutions and the belt |1| to help bind the beginning or leading end of wire rbeing wound Ato the surface of the drum of empty spool 43. -f

It will bernoted that, upon completion of the Lsecond movement of the xed pivot.` |25, when the elements assume the position illustratedr in Figure 15, the traversing guide 44 will be oppo- 11 site the full spool 42, but no convolutions will be formed thereon by this movement. `This is because the three movements of the fixed pivot |25 are so rapid that the convolution' forming wire 55 can not climb from the surface 51 of the empty drum over the edges of the spool heads 58.

It will also'be noted that, while convolutions |8| Yare being formed', the bite |82 forms tight,- ly over the rims of adjacent spool heads 58. As soon as convolutions |83 begin to form to overlieand'bind the convolutions |8|, the bite .|82 begins to grow, as illustrated in Figure 15, due

is moving in the direction away from the empty spool. This results in a situation in which all the :convolutions formed in making the shift, convolu- Vtions |80lon.the full spool and convolutions |8I, |83, and y|84 on the empty spool, are positioned on the spools to be under action of the belts f |61 or |1|, of the empty spool.

tothe first-formed convolutions '|8| rwhich did not get caught under convolutions |83 becoming l unwound. The growingVv bite |82 whips around with rotation of the spools 42 and 43. Positioned attached to the machine base plate 91, below the spools 42 and 43 and ina. plane which lies Ybetweenthe heads 58 thereof, is the cutter |85,

edges of the belt |1|, and the spaced apart con-` volutions |80 formed on spool v42 are wound between the edges of belt |61. The belts |61 and |1| thus operate to help lay the respective free ends |86 and |81 of wire on the full spool 42 and empty spool 43,"respectively.

Whenv the stage illustrated in Figure 16 is reached, the shift is completed, and the wire begins to form successive convolutions |88, Figure 17, laid side by side by the traversing guide 44, under action of the heartfshap'ed cam |32. Traversing .begins .onr spool' 43 under action of the heart-shaped cam approximately at that posiy tion which corresponds with the position of spool 42 where traversing discontinued under action of the l'leart-shlatped cam at the beginning of the shift. As a result of the method of shifting described, the ilrst side by side convolutions |68 on the `empty spool are'lail from approximately midway between the heads 58 and 59 towards the head 58, and are thus laid between the edges ofthe belt |1|. f

Figure 21 illustrates schematically one practical lay-out of the motor controls, and the controls for the various pneumatically operated mechanisms used for shifting from the full to the empty spool. In the embodiment shown, compressed air is fed from the main line |9| to the several reducing valves |92, |93 and |94, which furnish air at the different pressure required for the several cylinders.

The cylinders 94-and |03. which respectively actuate the carriages of spools 42 and 43 from winding positions to their forward positions for spool replacement, and back to winding positions, received compressed air from reducing valve |92 at their required pressure, respectively through the master control valves |95 and |96. The cylinder |56,V whichjactuates the fixed pivot |25 for making the shift, receives lair at its required pressure from the reducing valve |93, through master control valve |90. The cylinders |14 and |11, which actuate the respective belts |61 and |1| into engagement with their respective spools 42 and 43, receive compressed air at they pressure they require from reducing valve |94, through their respective master control valves |91 and |98. The master valves |90, |95, |96, |91 and |98 are each manually operable to feed compressed air to both ends of their respective cylinders |56, 94, |03, |14 and |11, to cause the respective cylinders lto operate in both directions as required.

motor |0|, and is adjusted to bring the drumV 51 'of the empty spool 43 approximately to the same surface speed as the winding speed of spool 42.

The first side by 'sidec'onvolunons sa 1am unf der action of the heart-shaped cam |32 onto the empty spool 443',v as illustrated in Figure 17, op-

erate to overlie the convolutions |8|, |88 and |84,

and winding of the convolutions |88 continues towards the head 58 of spool 43 until the free end |81 is wrapped onto the drum 51 of thespool. It will be understood that, in actual practice, the action of shifting from the full spool to the empty spool is.very rapid.V The movement from the full spool to the empty spool to form convolu-V tions |8|, lback from theV empty spool towards the Motor |0| is now being driven under no load.

The operator now selects a time when traversing guide 44 is moving away vfrom the head 58 of the full spool 42, and opens valve |91 to actuate belt |61 into engagement Vwith the full spool 42. Next the valve |98 is operated to actuate belt |1| into engagement with the drum 51 of empty spool 43. Now the condition of the machine is such that spool 42 drives spool 43 at the same surface` speed through the interdrive comprising belts |61 and |1|. At this stage the counterbalanced sheave 41, Figure 1, may indicate that the driving speed of spool 42, and accordingly the spooling tension, has beendisturbed by the load adjustment on motor 90. Accordingly, appropriate manual adjustments of the rheostats |08 and |09 are made to return the machine to proper spooling Y l A alia-1,021

time he makes the shift from the full to the empty spool. He moves the handle of the valve |90rapidly, frstin the direction to make the shift, then back inl to direction towards the full spool, and again in the original direction to complete the shift. This operation causes the beginning end of wire beingwound on the empty spool 43 to attach itself to the spool drum 51, -in the manner disclosed in detail in Figures 13 to 20. When the shift is completed the bite |82 of wire between spools is cut by the cutter |85, and the first side by side convolutions |88 begin to form on the empty spool 43. Y y Y Winding having begun on the empty spool 43, the valve |98 is operated to actuate belt-|1| out of engagement with the spool 43 now being wound. Motor 90 is stopped by opening the switch |08, and valve |91 is operated to actuate\belt |61 out of engagement with the full spool V42. When motor 90 comes to a stop, valve |95 is operated to move the carriage of spool 42 forward into dotted line position 42 n'Figure 2. The latch mechanism of Figures 7 and 8 is operated to remove the full spool 42 from the spindle |52 and replace it with an empty one. Valve |95 is now operated to return the carriage of spool 42 back into vcoaxial alignment with spindle 53, and the machine is ready to shift` thev Winding back to spool 42 when spool 43 becomes wound to fullness.

It will be understood that when the shift is made from spool 43 as the full one to empty spool 42, valve |96 is the one operatedto move the carriage of spool 43 forward and back to replace an empty spool on spindle 63.

The shift from the full to the empty spooly can be made manually by operation of the handle of valve |90, in themanner described. Mechanism can be employed, however, toautomatically bind the beginning end of wire being wound onto drum 51 of the empty spool, and one embodiment of The arm 203 is actuated by the pneumatic cylinder 2|5, under control of the master valve 2|6,

line 2|8 to retract'the arm 203 from full line to dotted line position, and this takes place when when wire actuating pin 20| empty spool, line valve 2|3 at the time has attained 4its extremely extended position. Line 220 is energized to project arm 203 to full line position when the control valve 2|5 is operated by the bleeder valve 22|. In the case of a. shift to spool 43 as the 222 is energized to retract arm 201, when control valve 2 I8 is operated by bleeder valve 2114, and line 223 is energized when bleeder valve 224 operates the control valve 2|8.

vBleeder valves 22| and 224 are respectively operated when the carriage |5| of the xed pivot |25 is moved intolfull and dotted line positions, respectively, of Figure 22. The valve 22| is operated by actuating finger 225 which pivots at 226, but which is held against pivoting by the stop 221, ywhen the carriage |5| moves from dotted to full line position. Finger 225 is held in engagement with the stop 221V by the spring 228, but is able to pivot against the action o1' spring 228, to pass the pin 2|| operates bleeder valve 22| ineffectually, when the carriage |5| such mechanism is illustrated fin Figures 22 and 23.

As illustrated in Figures 22 and 23, the automatic mechanism comprises the wire actuating pins 20| and 202, respectively, disposed in positions adjacent spools 42 and 43. Pin 20| projects laterally from the slide arm 203, which travels longitudinally in the guideway 204, from the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 22, to the full line positions. The slide arm 203 includes the cam slot 205, engaged by the cam follower pin 206 which projectsl inwardly from the guideway 204 'into the slotf205 to rotate the arm 203 on its axis during its longitudinal movement.: By means of the cam 205, the pin 20| is rotated from dotted line position in Figure 23, Where it is out of the way of the spool head 59, tothe full line position, Where it lies close to the spool drum 51 and normal to the path of travel of the wire 55 from the traversing sheave 45 to the spool 42. By means of the cam 205 the pin 20| is positioned to engage the wire 55 at a point close to the winding surface of empty spool 42. Y

The pin 202, for spool 43, is similarly projected laterally of slide larm 201 which slides in guideway 208. Slide arm 201 includes cam slot 209 engaged by the cam follower pin 2|0, in a manner similar to the cam slot 205 of arm 203.

The rear ends of the arms 203 and 201 have radially projected valve actuating pins 2H and 2|2,`respectively, in ate respective bleeder valves 2| 3, 2|4, when the respective pins 20| and 202 arrive at their extremely extended positions, indicated by the full line showing of arm 203 in Figure 22.

' position. the finger 229 passes over bleeder valve .224 without operating it, but linger 225, being held by stop 221, operates bleeder valve 22 moves from full to dotted line position. Similar construction, comprising the finger 229, pivoted at 230, and held in engagement with stop 23| by spring 232, operates valve 224 when carriagell is moved from full to dotted line position, but does not operate valve 224 when carriage |5|' is moved from dotted to full line position. A With the automatic mechanism illustrated in Figures 22 and 23, the control valve |90 for the cylinder |56 which actuates the carriage |5| and the xed pivot |25 carried thereby, movement only to make the shift from the full l to the empty spool.

When spool 43 is the full one, as shown in Figure 22, the'carriage III is in dotted line position during winding of spool 43. Valve|90 is operated vto energize cylinder |55 to move carriage |5| to full line position, and this movement traverses guide 44 to the illustrated position'opposite spool. 42. In this movement the spaced apart convolutions |80 are formed on the empty spool 43, convolutionsy IBI' are vformed on the empty spool 42, and the bite |82 is formed between the spools.

vIn the movement of carriage|5| to full line This, in turn, operates control valve 2|6 to energize line 220 to cylinder 2|5` whereby the arm 203 is Y projected from dotted line to full line position,

shown. In the movement of arm 203. the pin 20| moves circumferentially from dotted to full line positions in Figure 23. into position between the `spool heads 58 and 59 of spool 42 close to the surface of the drum 51 thereof. The pin 20| thus attains a position across the path of wire 55 and normal thereto, engages thelength of wire y 55 between the-traversing guide 44 and the spool drum 51, and forms the spaced apart convolutions |83 seen in Figure. 22, which overlie the convolutions |8I, and bind the beginning end of wire being wound onto the drum of the empty spool 42. t

As in the case of the manual method of binding the beginning end of wire 55 to the surface of the drum 51, the master valve is operated when The bleeder 2|6 to energize is given one line position.

the direction away from the empty spool 42, and

during the shift the traversing guide moves to about the midpoint between heads of the empty spool I2'. This forms the convolutions 60|, seen in Figure 22. which` are like the convolutions IBI in Figure 14. The single movement of the valve |90 sets the automatic mechanism Aof Figures 22 and 23 in operation to form the convolutions |33' which are similar to convolutions |33 in Figure 15,. and which operate to :bind the convolutionsto the drum surface in a like manner. Actuation of the arm 203 to form lconvolutions |83' places the valve actuating pin 2II into operating engagement withthe bleeder valve'2l3, which operates master controlvalve 2I0 to energize line 210 and retract arm 203 to its dotted line position.

This forms convolutions, not shown, which'are similar to convolutions I, and the traversing guide now continues to traverse in its normal mannerV under action of the heart-shaped cam I32, to form side by side convolutions.. suchas |30 in Figure 17, and Vbegin the winding of spool Whenarm 203 retracts to dotted line position in Figure 22, pin 202 rotates to dotted line position in Figure 23, where it -is out of the way of the spoolhead 59. y

When spool 42V is wound to fullness,v and the shift is made to spool 43,' valve |90 is operated 'Y in the opposite direction to move the carriage lil"A of nxed pivot |25 from full line to. dotted This operates bleeder` valve 224 which operates master valve 2 I3, Ato energize cylfinder 2 I 1 to project arm 201 to form convolutions,

such as |83', which overlie and'bind previously formed convolutions |81. When arm 201 reaches the limit of its'stroke, pin 2I2 operates bleeder valve 2I4 lto operate master valve Y2I8, to retract the arm 201.

With the spooling machine of the present invention, wire can be continuously wound on suo- Y formed with the wire traveling at a constant uni- -form speed, it being understood that any slackening of wire travel often results in burning or dis- I coloring` they/ire, while any acceleration of the wire travel, by an increase in tension, often results in a breaking of the wire, especially in in'- stances where the wire is of a relatively une gauge Without further elaboration the foregoing willv so fully explain the invention that others mayrby applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, itis not indispensable that all the fea'- tures of the invention be used conjointly since vtive of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended applicationin various forms, Vand. that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is V:`

1. In the art of spooling wire continuously on successive spools, the process of attaching the beginning end of wire being wound to the drum of Van empty vspool which comprises winding the wire on a given spool to fullness, directing the wire to the succeeding spool and winding a plurality of convolutions ywith a greater lead on the second spool in one direction longitudinally thereof, then winding a plurality of convolutions of a'greater lead on the said second spool in the other direction longitudinally thereof to overlap the first set of convolutions, and retain said wire on the spool and thereafter helically winding the wire on the Ysecond spool in juxtaposed convolutions over the overlapping convolutions.

2. A wire spooling machine comprising a plurality of spools, means `todrive .the several spools to wind wire thereon successively, means to de- -liver wire to the spooling machine continuously at a predetermined linear speed, means to drive the several spools at independently varying rotary speeds, an interdrive operable between the winding surface of a spool being wound and the winding surface of a successive empty spool and driven by the full spool to drive the empty spool at a winding speed commensurate with the linear speed of Wire delivery to the spooling machine when winding is transferred from a full spool to the next succeeding empty spool. V

3. A wire spooling machine comprising a plurality of adjacent coaxial spools, means to drive the spools. to wind wire, a traversing guide comg prising means to 'lay wire on the spo'ol being wound in Vside by side convolutions, means to@ transfer the traversing guide from one to the other spool for winding successive spools, the transfer means comprising means to reciprocate the traversing guide to produce a plurality of spaced overlapping convolutions of increased lead to bind the beginning end of wire wound on the empty spool. y

4. `A wire spooling machine comprising means to drive the spools to wind wire, a traversing guide to lay wire on the spool being wound in Vside by side convolutions, means to transfer the traversing guide from one to the other spool for ,windingr successive spools, means Voperated by op eration Vofl the transferrmeans `to produce a plurality of overlapping lconvolutions of increased lead to bind the beginning end of wire wound on the 'empty spool.

5. A wire spooling Vmachine comprising `a plurality of spools, means to drive the several spools to wind wire thereon successively, means to dethey may be employed advantageouslyin various combinations and subcombinatlons. -1

liver wire to the spooling machine continuously at a predetermined linear speed, means to drive the several spools at indpendently varying rotary speeds, an interdrive operable between the surface of a full spool and the surface of the sueceeding empty spool to drive the several spools at a winding speed commensurate with the linear speed of wire delivery to the spooling machine when winding is transferred from a full spool to the next succeeding empty spool.

different spools to Wind them in succession, means to continuously deliver moving wire to the guide at a preestablished linear speed, means to independently control the speed of rotation of the respective spools to maintain a winding speed commensurate with said linear speed, and means operable by the wire on a spool being wound to insure rotation of an empty spool at said winding speed and to institute winding of said wire on said empty spool upon operation of said shifting means.

7. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a plurality of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a strand at a rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, and speed correlating means operably associated with a pair of said spools and rendered effective by engagement with the strand on a spool being-wound for rotating an empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding thereon when shifted thereto.

8. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a plurality of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from a strand at a winding rate proportional to a preestablished denite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, a friction interdrive operable between a pair of said spools and actuated by engagement with the mass on a spool being wound for insuring rotation of an empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding thereon when shifted thereto.

9. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a plurality of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from a strand at a winding rate proportional to a. preestablished definite delivery speed of `the strand to the spools, transfer means for shifting said strand from one spool to another, and a friction interdrive operable between a pair of said spools and actuated by engagement with the mass on a spool being wound for insuring rotation of an empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and to institute winding said strand thereon when said transfer means is rendered effective.

10.`In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a pair of spools successively effective for continuously Winding thereon a strand at a rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, andv interdrive means including a pair of uniformly actuated elements for engaging the strand on a spool being wound and the winding surface of an empty spool respectively to insure rotation of said surface at a rate for receiving said strand and for instituting Winding of the strand thereon when transferred thereto.

11. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a pair of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from a strand at a Winding rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of` the strand to the spools, transfer means effective for shifting said strand from a spool being wound to an empty spool, a friction interdrive operable between said spools and actuated by engagement with the mass of the spool being wound for insuring rotation of the empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding of the strand thereon when shifted thereto by said transfer means, and fluid oper- 18 ated means for rendering transfer means effective,

12. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a pair of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from 'a strand at a winding rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, transfer means effective for shifting said strand from a spool being wound to an empty spool, a friction interdrive operable between said spools and actuated by engagement with the mass of the spool being wound for insuring rotation of the empty spool at said rate` to receive said strand and institute winding of the strand thereon when shifted thereto by said transfer means, and fluid operated means for rendering said interdrive effective.

13.' In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a pair of spools successively effective for continuously Winding thereon a mass from a strand and at a rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, and a pair of relatively shiftable and uniformly operated belts rendered effective by engagement of one of said belts with the mass on a spool being wound for rotating the winding surface of an empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding of said strand when transferred thereto from the spool being wound, and means for urging said belts into engagement with said last mentioned mass and said empty spool respectively, to render said belts effective.

14. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a pair of spools successively effective for continuously Winding thereon a strand at a rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, and means rendered effective by the strand on a spool being wound for rotating an empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding thereon when shifted thereto, and means effective for severing said strand between said spools after institution of the winding.

15. In combination, means for independently rotating a plurality of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from a strand at a winding rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, a friction interdrive operable between a pair of said spools andfactuated by engagement with the mass on a spool being wound for insuring rotation of an empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute Winding thereon when shifted thereto, and strand operated means for denoting variation of said rate.

16. In combination, means for independently rotating -a plurality of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from a strand at a winding rate proportional to a preestabllshed definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, guide means for guiding the strand to the respective spool, and means for shifting the guide means to transfer the strand from one spool to another, and a friction interdrive operable between a pair of said spools and actuated by engagement with the mass on a spool being wound for insuring rotation of an empi/y spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding thereon when transferred thereto.

17. In a spooling machine, the combination of means for independently rotating a pair of spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a mass from a strand and at a rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, and a pair of relatively shiftable and uniformly operated belts rendered effective by engagement of one of said belts With the mass on a spool being Wound for rotating the winding surface of yan empty spool at said rate to receive said strand and institute winding of said strand when transferred thereto from the spool being wound, and means for urging said belts into engagement with said last mentioned mass and said `empty spool to render said belts effective, and cutter mechanism for severing said strand between said spools when said belts are rendered ineffective.

18. In combination, a pair of independently rotatable spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon a strand at a rate proportional to a preestablished definite delivery speed of the strand to the spools, and means rendered effective by the strand Wound on one of said spools for rotating the other lspool at said rate to condition said other spool for receiving said strand at said speed when said strand is vtransferred from said one spool to said other spool.

19. The combination of Wire treating means of the type necessitating a continuous uniform 4speed of travel of the wire from said treating means to preclude damageto the wire; and a wire spooling machine comprising means for independently rotating a pair of replaceable spools successively effective for continuously winding thereon the Wire at a rate proportional to said speed, and means rendered effective by the Wire on a spool being Wound for insuring rotation of an empty spool at said rate to receive said wire and institute Winding thereon when shifted thereto and thus maintain said uniform speed of said wire from said Wire treating means.

20. The combination of wire treating means of the type necessitating a continuous uniform speed of travel of the wire from said treating means to preclude damage to the wire; a pair of independently rotatable spools successively effective for continuously Winding thereon the wire at a rate proportional to said speed; and speed synchronizing means operably associated with said spools and rendered effective by engagement with the Wire on a spool being wound for rotating an empty spool at said rate to receive the wire at said speed during transferring of the wire from the spool being wound to the empty spool and thus maintain said uniform speed of travel of the Wire from the Wire treating means.

J CHN COOK. 

